News

Game Changer

The FA has today launched a plan for the future of women’s football in England. Entitled ‘Game Changer’ it will harness the momentum of the Olympics and drive the game forward at every level.

2012 has been an incredible year for women’s sport in general and women’s football has experienced unprecedented levels of interest.

The GB Women’s football team kicked off the Olympics and shattered attendance and TV viewing records as they made their way to the quarter finals.

The England Women’s team qualified unbeaten for the 2013 UEFA European Championship Finals in Sweden, with the final two home games broadcast live on terrestrial television and the second season of The FA WSL was completed.

In 2013 The FA celebrates 150 years of supporting football in England and a strong women’s game is a cornerstone of the next phase of The FA’s development plans.

FA Chairman David Bernstein said; “Women’s football is the area with the most potential for growth in the nation’s favourite game.

“We are determined to lead that development at every level and have created a robust plan for doing so using all our resources and knowledge.”

The FA will make these key commitments:

Create an Elite Performance Unit (EPU) and appoint a Head of Elite Development

The EPU will develop the best young players via the talent development pathway of 31 Centres of Excellence, 29 player development centres and elite performance camps;

The Head of EPU will develop a ‘Future Game’ performance document for women’s football and a coaching strategy continuing the work of The FA’s Female Coach Mentoring Scheme.

Deliver a new commercial strategy for women’s football

For the first time in FA history there will be a distinct commercial programme for women’s football to help the game have a clear identity and become financially more sustainable;

The commercial rights for England Women, The FA Women’s Cup and The FA WSL will be sold separately from rights for the men’s game to establish a clear identity in a crowded sports marketplace;

More broadcast coverage will be secured and strong commercial partnerships forged to elevate the profile of the women’s game.

Expand The FA WSL

We will introduce an FA WSL2 in 2014 to enable promotion and relegation, expanding a competition format that is driving up playing standards and improving awareness of the women’s game.

Grow Participation

We want women’s football to become the second largest team sport after men’s football by 2018 based on independent Sport England research, with 253,600 women playing football each month (currently fourth behind men’s football, cricket and rugby).